Centercasting network system



March 29, 1949. A. N. GOLDSMITH 2,465,976

CENTERCASTING NETWORK SYSTEM Filed Dec. 24, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l 51- 525 T 11, w v 2 Q 326% K A? 2% 1 pm w [NVENTOR 410950 A7ZZ0A0JM/7'AC BY gATTORNEY March 29, 1949. A. N. GOLDSMITH 2,465,976

GENTERCASTING NETWORK SYSTEM.

Filed Dec. 24, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 g/5' SIG/VAL ,c 724R CONTROLLEDM457K REGM'TER .5'7/17/0/1/ 56M RECF/VER L I CWT/201MB REGISTERILLUSTRATIVE FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS CHANNEL MAIN CARRIER SUB-CARRIER v TOCI no MC/S 7 MC/S v TO c2 no Mc/s 8 MC/S 01 TO M I00 MC/S 7 MC/S c2 TO M:00 Mc/s s MC/S ALFRE N. GOLDSMITH M .J I\ ORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1949UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to polling systems and more particularly to aradio communication system which may appropriately be termed a radiocentercasting system in contradistinction to a radio broadcastingsystem.

The improvements herein disclosed constitute a development of an art inwhich my earlier inventions are set forth in certain copendingapplications, particularly, Serial No. 421,898, filed December 6, 1941,now U. S. Patent 2,427,670; Serial No, 432,780, filed February 28, 1942,now U. S. Patent 2,413,965; Serial No. 445,859, filed June 5, 1942; andSerial No. 456,639, filed August 29, 1942, now abandoned.

In the above mentioned copending applications, I disclosed variousembodiments of systems for obtaining polls of public opinion by means ofradio apparatus installed in numerous outlying voting stations andplaced in communication over radio channels with a central station wherethe votes to be obtained could be counted or tabulated in accordancewith any desired classification of votes. These systems were so designedthat upon announcement of a question on which an expression of publicopinion might be desired, each voter, if he were present at his station,could actuate a presettable device, such as a keyboard, to indicate hisopinion or choice. For example, it was shown that upon any question, thevoters answer might be any one of the following: Yes, Maybe yes, Noopinion, Maybe no, and No. When the voter was not present at hisstation, it would be possible according to my earlier disclosures tohave the voting station automatically actuated so as to send a No votesignal. At the central station, therefore, it would be possible toaccount for reports from all voting stations in the system and totabulate the votes numerically.

A factor which largely .determined the selection of the methods to beused in carrying out my invention was the limited range of ultra highfrequency transmitters such as would normally be used for centercastingoperation in a given market area. As a result of this limitation ofrange, the central stations (subsidiary central stations) can providefor only a restricted area. Accordingly their conjoint findings as to agiven vote must be combined by an additional network. Each centralstation develops its corresponding vote totals, and the totality of suchvotes is collected systematically by automatic means, as required, by anetwork.

Such a network in turn leads to the introduction of relay stations forinterconnection purposes.

For convenient operation of such a network there is required a storagesystem for recording and holding available the numerical Votes, aretransmitting system for such to'talized numerical vote signals, andmeans for controlling the retransmissions by suitable signals from themain central station which is, so to speak, the nucleus anddata-gathering point of the network,

Due to the fact that it was shown to be economical to utilize a lowpower transmitter at each voting station, it was found that vote signalscould be transmitted on an ultra high frequency carrier wave emittedduring a very brief moment and modulated by a tone frequency which wascharacteristic of the vote to be expressed. It is known, however, thatthe transmission range for ultra high frequency signals is quitelimited. In carrying out a nation-wide poll of public opinion,therefore, it would be necessary to set up numerous central stationseach serving a particular geographical area within a limited radius.Such an arrangement obviously presents the problem of coordinating thevoting operations in various parts of the country so as to obtain acomprehensive tabulation of votes extending over a much wider range thanthe limited range of a single group of ultra high frequency votingstations.

In the following description as well as in the claims, I make use of theterm station as a unit comprehending all necessary transmitting andreceiving apparatus whereby the functions of a centercasting networksystem may be performed. Thus by voting station I mean a receiving andtransmitting instrumentality which is capable of being conditioned fortransmitting a vote signal and which responds through its receiver to astart signal capable of initiating the transmission of vote signals fromseparated voting stations sequentially.

By the term master station, transmitting and receiving equipment isimplied. As will be seen from the description to follow, such a masterstation is provided with equipment for sending out starting signalseither to certain subsidiary central stations or directly to the votingstations so as to designate a suitable time for the collection andrelaying of vote signals,

By central station or subsidiary relay station, I mean to imply acoordinated system of receiving and transmitting units together withregistering apparatus whereby individual vote signals may be receivedand registered, and the 3 totals of the registrations in differentcategories may be automatically applied as modulation signals to be sentout by the transmitter of such a central station for receipt andtabulation at the master station.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acentercasting network in which voting operations may be of a nation-widescope.

It is another object of my invention to provide a master stationcooperatively associated with a plurality of outlying subsidiary centralstations, or relay stations, and in further cooperation with differentgroups of voting stations, each group of which is associated with aparticular relay station, all arranged for obtaining polls of publicopinion.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a comprehensivecentercasting system which facilitates the rapid collection of votingstatistics at. a single master station, these statistics being firstobtained by centercasting votes from different concurrently operatedgroups of voting stations.

Still another object of my invention is to provide for the relaying ofvoting signals through different relay stations so as to facilitate thetransmission of original vote signals to a master station more remotefrom certain outlying voting stations than their ultrahigh-frequencytransmitting range.

Moreover, it is an object of my invention to provide a radio pollingsystem in which the gathering and tabulation of votes is facilitated byfirst storing each voters choice in a tangib e medium at his votingstation, causing all the voting station: within a given group to beoperated sequentially for transmitting vote signals to a central stationwhich serves this particular group, causing other groups of votingstations to transmit concurrently with the first group, storing thetotals of votes of each designation at the central stations until astart signal is received thereat from a master station; and then causingthe several central stations to transmit signals to the master stationunder control of the storage means at each central station, the signaloutput being sequential as to all of the central stations which have acommon carrier frequency assignment, and

concurrent as to central stations which have different carrier frequencyassignments. And in furtherance of this object, it will be seen that bygrouping the central stations according to their carrier frequencyassignments, concurrent transmissions from central stations may be had,while Fig. 2 shows an association of a master station with two differentgroups of subsidiary central stations. Here a common carrier frequencyis assigned to central stations of one group and these stations transmitsequentially. Stations of a second group have a different common carrierfrequency, so that they may transmit concurrently with stations of thefirst group.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically how the storage and translation of votingstatistics may be handled at a given subsidiary station.

Fig, 4 is a modification enabling simultaneous transmittal from centralstations to master stations on carriers of the same frequency modulatedby sub-carriers of different frequency.

In Fig. 1 I show a master station M which may include transmitting andreceiving radio apparatus arranged to communicate with any desirednumber of outlying subsidiary central stations C. lhe communicatingchannels are indicated by the lines I, 2, 3, 3, and 5. Communication maybe had either by space radio waves, guided waves, or coaxial cables. Theemployment of an ultrahigh-frequency carrier is preferred althoughconditions may dictate the use of carrier waves of lower frequencies,depending upon the authorized frequency assignment.

Furthermore, if the transmission of voting statistics is to be carriedon from a subsidiary central station to a master station which is beyondthe reach of the ultra-high-frequency wave assigned to said station,then the use of intermediate booster stations is advisable, as is wellknown in the art.

Each subsidiary central station C is preferably equipped withtransmitting and receiving apparatus such as has been disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 421,898. Such apparatus includesdevices for sending out a start signal in response to which each votingstation is caused to answer back with a vote signal. The designation ofsuch vote signal is determined by the selective setting of a key by thevoter. The central station is also provided with receiving apparatusfrequency discriminating means whereby the vote signals when collectedsequentially may be tabulated in one of a number of different ways. Inmy copending application Serial No. 432,780, I have shown how the votesignals may be first recorded by facsimile methods and then analyzed byre-runs on a facsimile machine, uting a mask for selection of votes fromstations which are classified in different categories. Other systems ofcounting and tabulating the votes are also set forth in my copendingapplications, above cited, but since the instant disclosure'is intendedprimarily to cover systems for storing andrelaying voting statisticsthrough a plurality of subsidiary central stations to a master station,I willv now describe in some detail a preferred system suitable for thisaccomplishment.

Fig. 3 shows schematically an arrangement of receiving, registering, andrelaying units which are useful at a subsidiary central station and arecontrolled by a special start signal originated at the master station M.The vote signals are counted and stored at a given central station andmay be translated into a train of intelligence signals which aresuitable for reporting to the master station the results of the publicopinion poll,

The receiver Ills may, if desired, be of the type shown as a centralstation receiver in my copending application Serial N 0. 421,898. Theoutput of this receiver is shown connected to a plurality of filtersI29, each having a specified band pass characteristic such that votesignals of different designations may be passed to'respectivelydifferent electronic circuits for register control. In accordance withmy copending application Serial No. 421,898, I preferably employ six ofthesefilters I29 and six associated electronic circuit units hll so thatvote signals maybe'counted to represent pulses from different stages ofan electronic counting chain. Thus circuit I 52 delivers one impulse forevery ten impulses delivered by circuit 143 and the latter delivers oneimpulse for every ten impulses delivered by circuit Hi l. The impulsesin circuit Hi4 correspond in number with the vote signals passed througha single filter Hi I.

Three rotary switches M5, W6, and Id? are provided, each having astepping magnet M3. The complete rotary switch unit M5 for the hundredsorder is indicated within a broken line 5;

rectangle and includes a bank of ten segmental contacts which are wipedover by a brush i523. The stepping magnet MS has its armature associatedwith a ratchet and pawl mechanism (not shown) for rotating the brush I53step by step,

as is well known. Such switches are sometimes referred to as Strowgerswitches.

Each of the six electronic circuit units Ml for register control isarranged to deliver its output impulses to an appropriate set of threeStrowger switches, the functions of which are to accumulate and storethe hundreds, tens, and units figures of the counted votes. Thesedifferent sets of three Strowger switches each are indicated in blockdiagram except those for the Yes vote and the No vote signals. It willbe understood, however, that all of these decimal register switches arealike and are merely indicated as blocks in order to simplify thedrawing.

Each of the segmental contacts hid in the rotary switches is fed withalternating current from one of the oscillation generators ltl, whichindividually possess a distinguishable frequency. Ten of thesegenerators it! are shown and it will be understood that each mayrepresent one of the numerals 0 to 9 inclusive. A set of distinguishable modulation frequencies which may characterize thesenumerals may, if desired, be the following:

fo=20300 f5=11700 f1 6600 f6=12500 f2=8500 f7=14500 f3=9500 13;:15600f4=10690 f9=18000 Other frequencies might be chosen, but those statedhave been found to be satisfactory because none of them is a harmonic ofany other.

After the vote signals have been received through receiver Hi9, from thevarious outlying voting stations, and have been fed through the filtersI29 for actuating the electronic circuits Ml, it will be seen that, stepby step, the votes will be counted according to different designationssuch as Yes and No, representing the different opinions of the personsvoting. These registrations are simultaneously transferred to registerswitches H25, H16, and Ml which are thereby set to positionscorresponding to the hundreds, tens, and units digits respectively. Uponcompletion of this registration, it is necessary to condition thecircuits of the digital register switches for translating the storedintelligence into signals suitable for transmission to the masterstation M. This step is preferably accomplished as follows:

A suitable signal is sent out by the master station M which is respondedto by all the receivers we of the subsidiary central stations, whereverthey may be located. Such a signal is preferably in the form of a brieftone modulation of the assigned carrier on which the master statlon M isarranged to transmit. The master station preferably sends out twocharacteristically di'derent start signals, the first of which isresponded to by the individual voting stations, to which it may berelayed by the subsidiary central stations, if desired. The function ofthe first of the two start signals is to cause the individual votingstations to send their votes to their corresponding central stations.lhe second start signal causes the totalized votes at the centralstations to be sent to the master station. The technique employed forthis purpose is similar to that described in my U. S. Patent 2,427,670,dated September 23, 1947. Between the first and second start signals asuitable time interval is provided for collecting the votes at thevarious subsidiary central stations from the various outlying votingstations. Response to the second start signal at a given central stationmust follow the setting of its decimal register switches M5, M8, and M1to positions which indicate the totals of the votes of differentdesignations.

The second start signal as received from the master station may becharacterized, for example, by a modulation frequency of 56% cycleswhich is passed by the filter 552. The output from this filter may berectified in the rectifier unit llit and fed to a relay ltd. When thecontacts of relay 556 are closed, the opeation of a fixed interval timertilt may be started. Such a timer is well known in the art and does notneed to be herein described. Its function is to deliver an outputimpulse after a predetermined period of delay following the impulsewhich initiates its operation.

For different subsidiary central stations, it would be preferable toadjust the interval of operation of the timer unit i5?) so that thedifferent central stations will transmit their intelligencesequentially. Thus the first station to transmit the totals accumulatedon the decimal register switches will complete its operation before thenext reporting central station is permitted by its fixed interval timerN55 to begin transmitting.

On the output side of the timer unit I55 is a relay Hit, the contactsI51 of which are in circuit with a single segment I58 on one bank of adual bank rotary switch I60. On the same bank with segment Hill is aseries of interconnected segments indicated by the arcuate line tile.The motor magnet I61 for this rotary switch ltll is in circuit withbrush I62 which wipes over segments i558 and l59. This motor magnet I6!is periodically energized by a D. C. source working through a fixedcycle circuit interrupter 33. This circuit interrupter may, if desired,be motor driven at a constant rate. The motor magnet l6l startsimpulsing only in response to the closing of contacts llil by the relayl56. As soon as the brush 162 steps off of segment 1153 the cadence offurther steps is determined by periodic circuit closures through thecircuit interrupting unit ltil. It will thus be seen that means areherein shown for selectively and sequentially closing a plurality ofcircuits through the brush I64 on rotary switch ltd where this brushwipes over the arcuately disposed segments I65. Each individual segmentI65 7 isv connected in circuit with an individual one of the brush I50in the decimal register switches.

Assuming that there are six classes of voting response and that thetotal count of votes in each class does not exceed 999, then it issufiicient to provide 19 segmental positions through which the brush I64will be stepped. The first position may be considered a homing position.

The brush I64 i in circuit with the input of the modulator I66. Theoutput of this modulator is preferably fed to a transmitter IS? and theoutput of the transmitter is deliverable to a suitable antenna |68 fortransmitting signals to the master station M.

In the operation of the system shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen thatdifferent modulation frequencies generated by the units l5! andassignable to the ten different digits are arranged to be selectivelyfed through the brushes I59 of the decimal register switches dependingupon the setting of the latter. Such feeding is sequential with respectto each individual switch. Eighteen of these switches are provided forthe hundreds, tens, and units denominations of the six different voteregisters. Thus a train of tone-modulated impulses is deliverable by thetransmitter It! to the antenna I68 in accordance with the successivesteps taken by the wiper i6 4 passing over the bank of segments IE5 at aperiodicity determined by the rate of rotation of the circuitinterrupter I63.

As shown in Fig. 1, it may be desirable to carry on the collection ofvotes from diiferent groups of outlying voting stations V concurrently.However, it is necessary to arrange the subsidiary central stations C sothat each one will collect appropriate vote signals exclusively. Thuscertain of the voting stations are indicated as in communication withcentral station Cl through channels ll, l2, l3, etc. Other votingstations are in communication with central station C2 and communicationis obtained through channels 2i, 22, 23, etc. Central station C3 is fedwith vote signals from certain voting stations which are incommunication therewith on channels 3!, 32, 33, etc. Likewise, centralstations CA and C5 are served with vote signals over channels ll, 42,and 43 in one case and channels 5!, 52, and 53 in the other case.

In order to avoid the collection of any vote signals by two adjacentcentral stations such as C2 and C3, it is preferable that the receiversof these stations be tuned to diiferent carrier wave frequencies. Thegroup of voting stations V associated with station C2 will all operateon a single ultra-high-frequency channel which is different from theultra-high-frequency channel used by stations in the group associatedwith central station C3. Likewise, different carrier frequencyassignments may be had with respect to each of the other subsidiarycentral stations and their associated voting station. Differentiatedcarrier frequency assignments are, of course, especially necessary wherethe territories of different central stations overlap one anotherunavoidably.

As a modification of the system described in the foregoing paragraph, itmay be desirable in certain cases to utilize a common carrier frequencyfor all of the voting stations, but discrimination as to the points ofreception of the vote signals may be had by the use of differentsub-carrier frequencies, as is well known in the art.

When the votes on any particular question that hasbeen put before thepublic have been received all) capable of handling without appreciabledistortion or loss signals which are sent out or received by centralstations C. The master station M may, if desired, be located at one ofthe central stations C or it may be located at any other convenientpoint, as shown in the drawing.

The master station M originates the questions of the radio poll whichare sent out as sound signals, facsimile signals, or the like, over theentire cents-roasting network. fhey may in certain inbe broadcast over awave which reaches the different voting stations V directly. Under otherconditions, particularly where an ultrahigh-frequency carrier wave isused, the broadcasting of the intelligence from station lvl may bereceived by stations Cl, C2, C3, etc. and then relayed to the variousVoting stations so as to reach the latter through said subsidiarycentral stations.

It is also contemplated that the start signal, which according to myearlier disclosures was utilized to initiate the transmission of votesignals, may be transmitted from the master station M dk'ectly to thedifferent voting stations, or this start signal may be relayed to themthrough the various subsidiary central stations.

When it is desired that diiferent central stations shall be operatedconcurrently, then it is necessary to provide frequency discriminatingtransmitting and receiving apparatus so that the signals from differentcentral stations shall not be confused, but may be identified as totheir origin,

A convenient arrangement for carrying out the invention in this manneris illustrated in Fig. 2 where the central stations CA1, CA2, and CA2have an assigned carrier frequency fa, and central stations CB1, CB2,and CB; have an assigned carrier frequency is. Since there are twogroups of central stations, each group having a distinct carrierfrequency assignment, it follows that these groups may be operatedconcurrently. Also the sequence of operation of the individual centralstations of the A-group is independent of the sequence in which thestations of the B-group are to be operated.

At the master station, as shown in Fig. 2, reception of signals from thecentral stations of the A-group and of the B-group may be had by the useof two receivers l and 8, receiver l being to the frequency fa andreceiver 8 being tuned to the frequency is. An antenna system 6 may beused in common by the two receivers if desired, or separate antennas maybe provided.

output from each of the receivers "i and 8 at the master station isselectively passed through diiferent parallel-connected tone-frequencyfilters f0, f1, f9 corresponding to the tone frequency designations bywhich the numerical value of each signal impulse identified. output fromeach tone frequency filter is preferably carried separately to anappropriate unit of the recorders 9 and Hi. The details of structure ofthese recorders may be in accordance with any well known design, and arenot, therefore, herein given.

It will be noted that since the two receivers l and 8 are independent,the filter groups in their output circuits are also independent, andhence the recorders 9 and iii are independent of each other and may beoperated concurrently for economy of time.

According to an alternative arrangement such as shown in Fig. 2, thesubsidiary central stations are arranged to operate simultaneously, eachhaving suitable carrier frequency assignments. The receiving apparatusat the master station for assembling the voting statistics includes suchfrequency discriminating receiving circuits as will enable it to respondsimultaneously to all of the trains of intelligence signals transmittedby the several subsidiary central stations. in 2, several centralstations are on one carrier ire-- quency (fit), and these centralstations are dueried at mutually exclusive times. Several other centralstations are on another carrier frequency (f3) and are also queried, atmutually exclusive times, though as a group. The first group of centralstations may send their stored data to the master station simultaneouslywith a similar transmission of stored d eta by the second group ofcentral stations. In Fig. 4, each of the central stations is on the sameidentifiable carrier frequency (100 mc.), but its signals can bedistinguishably separated from the other central-station signals by theuse of its different sub-carrier frequency (7 or 8 Inc).

In connection with the description of Fig. 3, it will be noted thatsequential operation of the different central stations enables themaster station to receive a train of intelligence signals which needs nofrequency discrimination for identifying the different sources. Eachcentral station has its predetermined position in the sequence, which issufficient to identify the signals sent out therefrom. In thisconnection each central station is intended to use equipment of the sametype as used by the respondent stations when actuated at mutuallyexclusive times from a central station. This technique is set forth inmy U. S. Patent 2,427,670, dated September 23, 1947, referredhereinabove.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 4., Cl and C2 represent outlyingcentral stations. The letter V repr sent groups of respondent votingstations transmitting votes to the central stations Ci and C2. Theintegrated votes at stations Cl and C2 are simultaneously transmitted tothe master station receiver at the same carrier frequency but, by theuse of sub-carri rs of diiTerent frequency, the votes may be separatedand regi tered at the signal control registers shown. The signalcontrolled registers as represented in Fig. 4 are merely tabulatingmachines with totalizing counters activated by incoming signals. Theoutlying voting stations V about their central stations Cl Ci. work onthe same carrier frequencies as indicated, but are distinguishable atstations Cl and C2 by virtue of the use of subcarriers of differentfrequency, also as indicated.

In passing it may be noted that the recorder of Fig. 2 may be, forexample, a facsimile recorder such as shown in my U. S. Patent2,413,965. This recorder is an essential part of or may constitute theentire tabulating machine at the particular point in .e system at whichit is used.

As indicated in the foregoing description, it is possible to utilize themaster station either for tr remission of start signals directly to thevarious voting stations. or indirectly through the several centralstations Cl, C2, G3, etc. using the ll) latter as relay stations.Likewise, it is possible to utilize stations C merely as relay stationsfor sequential transmission of vote signals from all the outlying votingstations to the master station. in this case, the stations C wouldoperate merely as relay stations and would not be called upon totabulate the voting statistics. All tabulations would then be obtainedat the master station.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that numerous variants tothe above embodiments will [all within the scope of the presentinvention.

I claim:

1. A voting system comprising a master station, a plurality ofsubsidiary central stations, a group of outlying voting stations aboutand in operative association with each central station, means controlledfrom the central station for causing transmission of a starting impulseto said voting stations, said voting stations in response to saidstarting impulse operating to transmit voting signals. to theirassociated central stations, means at said central stations for storingthe voting signals transmitted t--ereto, and means subsequently operableat the master station to transmit a control signal to said centralstations for causing said central stations to transmit the votingsignals stored thereat to said master station.

2. A voting system comprising a master station, a plurality ofsubsidiary central stations, a group of outlying voting stations aboutand in operative association with each central station, means controlledfrom the central station for causing transmission of a starting impulseto said voting stations, said voting stations in response to saidstarting impulse operating to transmit, at mutuexclusive times, votingsignals to their associated central stations, means at said centralstations for storing the voting signals transmitted thereto and meanssubsequently operable at the master station to transmit a control signalto said central stations for causing said central stations to transmit,at mutually exclusive times, the voting signals stored thereat to saidmaster station.

3. A voting system comprising a master station having a radiotransmitter and a radio receiver, a plum" by of outlying relay stations,a plurality of groups of voting stations, said relay stations and votingstations each having a radio transmitter and a radio receiver, each saidvoting station having settable means for registering a voters opinion orchoice, means at said master station for causing its transmitter tobroadcast an initiatory signal in response to which said voting stationsare caused to centercast their vote sigat mutually exclusive times tosaid relay stations, means at each voting station for causing its votesignal when centercast by its transmitter to be characterized inaccordance with the setting of its settable means, means storing thevote signals at the relaying stations and means responsive to controlsignals transmitted by said master station for automatically causingtransmission of the stored signals at said relay stations to said masterstation.

l. A voting system in accordance with claim 3 wherein each relay stationis arranged to transmit on a carrier frequency exclusive thereto, andincluding frequency discriminating means at said master station therebyenabling simultaneous receipt or" vote signals from said relay stationsat said master station.

5. In a voting system which serves to assemble voting statistics at amaster station, said system being of the type which comprises aplurality of station of a particular group is operable in response to acontrol signal transmitted from said master station to transmit votesignals by radio waves to an appropriate relay station, a radio receiverat each relay station, means connected to the output of each receiverfor selectively reg- .istering a series of received vote signals inaccordance with the voting significance of each signal, said means beingoperable to separately store the count of vote signals of likesignificance, a plurality of tone generators and a radio transmitter ateach relay station, means including a sequence switch for performing aread-out function whereby the radiated output from said transmitter iscaused to be modulated by different ones of said tone generators independence upon the registered count of vote signals as set up. in saidselective registering means, and means at each relay station responsiveto a start signal which is originated at said master station for causingsaid read-out function to be performed by difierent ones of said relaystations at mutually exclusive times.

6. In a voting system of the type which comprises a master station, aplurality of relay stations and separate groups of voting stations,radio communication being maintained exclusively between the votingstations of each group and a respective one of said relay stations, saidvoting stations being responsive to a control signal from said masterstation to automatically transmit votes to said relay stations, a radioreceiver at each relay station responsive to signals from said votingstations and from said master station, the signals from said votingstations being so characterized as to express a voters opinion orchoice, and the signals from said master station being effective forperforming a timing function, means at each relay station effective toseparately count the vote signals of each choice, a high frequencyenergy-controlled transmitter at each relay station for transmittingsignals to said master station, means for so modulating the output ofsaid transmitters as to cause the radiation of signals which carryvoting statistics, said statistics being in accordance with therespective counts of vote signals of each choice, and means responsiveto a signal from said master station for controlling the times of signaltransmission from each relay station, thereby to obtain operation atmutually exclusive times of the relay station transmitters.

7. In a voting system of the type which comprises a master station, aplurality of relay stations, and separate groups of voting stations, agroup of said voting stations being in operative radio communication.with one relay station, an-

other group being in operative radio communication with another relaystation and so on, said master station being in operative radiocommunication with all of said relay stations and said voting stationsbeing under operative control of separate, characteristic controlsignals from said master station, a radio receiver at each relay stationresponsive .to signals from said voting stations and from said masterstation, the signals from said voting stations being so characterized asto express a voters opinion or choice, and the signals from said masterstation being effective for performing a timing function, means at eachlrelay station effective to separately count the Vote signals of eachchoice, a high frequency energycontrolled transmitter at each relaystation for transmitting signals to said master station, means for somodulating the output of said transmitters as to cause the radiation ofsignals which carry voting statistics, said statistics being inaccordance with the respective counts of vote signals of each choice,means for differently characterizing the signal radiation from eachseparate transmitter, and means responsive to said characteristiccontrol signal from said master station for causing concurrent operationof all the relay station transmitters.

8. In a relay station for reception and transmission of radio signals,where the incoming signals are differently characterized in accordancewith a plurality of voting expressions, and the outgoing signalsrepresent the numerical Values of resultant accumulations obtained byautomatically counting the incoming signals of like characterization,means selectively responsive to incoming signals of diiferentcharacterization for separately counting the same, means for storing theeffects of the resultant counts of said signals, a plurality of tonegenerators for variably characterizing the outgoing signals, andsequentially operable read-out means for selectively applying the outputenergies from said tone generators as modulations of the outgoingsignals, thereby to cause said outgoing signals to convey theintelligence which comprehends said numerical values.

ALFRED N. GOLDSMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,188,165 Thomas Jan. 23, 19402,206,702 LaPierre July 2, 1940 2,219,347 Thompson Oct. 29, 1940

